RI State Police find no cause for complaint against East Providence council

Thursday

Jul 11, 2013 at 9:39 AM

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A criminal review into whether the East Providence City Council had "unlawfully influenced" the city manager to suspend the police chief has been closed for lack of probable cause, said Michael J. Winquist, deputy superintend

By Maria Armental

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A criminal review into whether the East Providence City Council had "unlawfully influenced" the city manager to suspend the police chief has been closed for lack of probable cause, said Michael J. Winquist, deputy superintendent of the state police.

The state police launched the investigation in late May at the request of the state-appointed Budget Commission, which remains in control of city finances.

It was alleged, Winquist said, that "certain members" of the council had "unlawfully influenced" City Manager Peter Graczykowski to suspend Police Chief Joseph Tavares in exchange for the council renewing Graczykowski's contract.

Tavaras was reinstated in late May by the commission. The police union cast a no-confidence vote against the chief and has lodged several complaints with Graczykowski.

Additional allegations, including that a promotional exam was improperly administered, were referred to Chief Tavares for review. Winquist declined to comment on the specifics of the allegations beyond saying that they were determined to be administrative, not criminal.